You understand that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s an excellent concept, just to recognize later … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s precisely what occurred when I made a decision to change my whole agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. But in reality? It turned into among the most unpleasant software choices I have actually made in over a decade of running my organization.
So before you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you with precisely what dropped– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for smarter, a lot more efficient means to expand your company. Just … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Promise
Here’s things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a desire come to life. A solitary system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit reservations, automation, settlements– you name it.
If you have actually ever before juggled a Monster pile of devices simply to run your day-to-day, you recognize exactly how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for many years (and loving it, truthfully), but still– I got enticed in by the assurance of simplifying whatever under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a poor case of glossy item syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That In Fact Worked)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did whatever I required. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, appointment organizing, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the interface really felt a little dated in places, and in some cases things took a few even more clicks than I liked, yet hey, it functioned.
So why adjustment?
Honestly, I just started wondering if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (on the surface), used much more features, and all the amazing marketing professionals on the internet seemed to be going crazy concerning it. FOMO is a hell of a medication.
That inquisitiveness expense me more than simply money– it cost me time, energy, and assurance.
What It Price Me to Change
I went all in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating data, rebuilding workflows, and basically attempting to reproduce my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ email clients
- Dozens of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Custom types, landing pages, triggers … everything
Allow’s not also speak about the lost efficiency during those few weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and attempting to identify where the heck basic settings were.
And just when I believed things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Slipping In
Initially, everything looked fine. Yet then, out of nowhere, individuals on my listing began getting emails they weren’t expected to receive. I’m speaking completely irrelevant messages– sent out in sets of 171 individuals at once. Three days in a row.
Total chaos.
I reconstruct the automations from the ground up. Still occurred. I contacted support. They condemned “web server concerns.” However absolutely nothing made sense, and the problem didn’t go away. Visualize getting up every early morning questioning who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply irritating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand name is built on trust fund, you can not afford to look like an unaware amateur blasting the wrong emails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Good Luck
Now, I do not expect excellence from any kind of platform. Insects take place. But when they do? I anticipate the assistance team to step up quickly.
That really did not happen here.
Actions were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was shouting into deep space while my service melted. Meanwhile, every min I spent troubleshooting was a min I had not been serving customers or growing my firm.
For a device that markets itself to major entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel certain really did not treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever before use a device and just really feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel For Home Loans.
The UX was cumbersome. Points were hidden in strange locations. Also easy tasks like modifying a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. Want to transform product setups, page layouts, and overall flow? Great– you’ll need to hunt via 3 various areas that make no logical sense. Fifty percent the time, I could not also keep in mind where I ‘d clicked something 10 seconds previously.
It felt like making use of software built by engineers, for designers– not everyday company owner.
The “Affordable” Plan That Obtained Real Expensive, Real Rapid
Let’s talk money.
Among GoHighLevel’s large selling factors is the rate. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Appears fantastic, ideal?
However here’s what they don’t inform you:.
You pay extra per email if you use their SMTP.
You need to connect solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their payment independently.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t clarified clearly.
Want far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I added every little thing up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just poor math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel For Home Loans
The last straw? Viewing my e-mail open prices drop like a rock.
I would certainly been obtaining a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and things just worked.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were almost missing. Something was plainly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability concern. Possibly the system was simply sending out at hard times or otherwise individualizing messages correctly. Whatever the cause, I had not been lingering to play investigative while my list decomposed.
Lessons I Discovered by hand
If you’re thinking about switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new platform– right here’s what I desire somebody had actually told me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s easy to get hyped regarding the latest “revolutionary” tool. However even if everybody’s talking about something does not indicate it’s right for you. If your existing system is functioning, reconsider before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
Much more isn’t constantly much better. A platform with a clean, instinctive interface will certainly save you time and migraines in the future– even if it doesn’t have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Openness
Hidden expenses are the most awful. Choose tools that are in advance regarding pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your month-to-month expense.
4. Listen to Real Customers (Not Just Marketers)
Check objective reviews, customer discussion forums, and Reddit strings. Take notice of real customer experience– not just slick sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, easy to use system to run your business, I have actually evaluated a number. Here are a couple of I ‘d in fact recommend:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Effective automations, strong support, and it simply works. Well worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for services that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one option for tiny to mid-sized organizations with solid reporting devices.
Monday.com— Fantastic for task management, team partnership, and sales pipe monitoring.
Bonsai— Especially excellent for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel may benefit some. But also for me? It was a frustrating, pricey experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, asking yourself whether to make the leap– concentrate. Ask yourself what’s truly not working in your current setup. Don’t burn your systems down just because something newer and shinier appeared.
Stick with what jobs. Your sanity (and your customers) will thank you.